June 04, 2007

The end is near for Tony Soprano and his crew

Thoughts on Sunday's episode of "The Sopranos" are below. Don't read this unless you have seen that episode (and the last few episodes from the current season).

Not Sil.

That’s all I could think during the white-knuckled final minutes of Sunday’s episode of “The Sopranos.”

For a long time, I’ve thought it would make sense for Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini) to die as the series closed (and that’s just a guess, I have no inside information).
But I never really pondered the thought that there could be a lot of carnage around Tony as the end approached, as the rough beast known as the “Sopranos” finale slouches towards Bethlehem to be born.

Are you, like me, wondering if this episode might be better than next week’s series finale? Ever notice that many programs (and so many prior seasons of “The Sopranos”) have a second-to-last episode that is much better than the actual finale? I wonder if that’ll be the case here. Regardless, Sunday’s second-to-last episode was certainly a classic. As long as you ignore most of the A.J. (Robert Iler) stuff (yeah, yeah, the sins of the father are visited on the son. I get it. Enough already.)

But back to Silvio Dante. The dapper, understated linchpin of Tony’s crew. Always the one with the perfectly timed shrug. The brow wrinkled just enough for Tony to sigh, “What’s wrong?” Silvio wasn’t (isn’t?) a shouter or a tough guy or a bundle of rage (in other words, he’s not Paulie Walnuts).
He was just everything Tony needed in a confidante. Wise, trustworthy, loyal and dependable. And, as played by the talented Steven Van Zandt, dryly witty when circumstances allowed.

I don’t want Sil to be dead. As Sunday’s episode closed, all we knew was that doctors didn’t think he’d regain consciousness. I can’t quite picture him not in the picture, and his near-death is bringing it home to me, finally – “The Sopranos” is ending. For real. What? Who allowed this to happen?

OK, truth be told, I have long thought that the sixth season (which includes the most recent batch of episodes and the group of episodes before that) has had too many sluggish, stumbling moments, but hey, it’s still “The Sopranos.” I can’t not watch. Not possible. And the last few episodes have been really good.

Since the shocking death of Christopher Moltisanti (Michael Imperioli), a lot of momentum has built up in Tony’s world. A world in which all due respect must be paid, but also a world in which no sins are ever forgotten. The Russian in the forest from so many episodes ago? He’s forgotten. But all of Tony’s sins have come home to roost now.

Hence Tony finishing out last night’s episode sleeping with his gun, just as John Wayne might have in some heroic western.

On the chalkboard in A.J’s classroom in a recent episode, a quote from Wordsworth: “Getting and spending, we lay waste to our powers.”
Somehow that doesn’t strike he as a harbinger of good things to come for anyone in the “Sopranos” family.

Bobby Bacala (Steven Schirripa) died last night as well, and though Bobby didn’t have the stature of a Silvio, his death scene was exceptionally well directed by Alan Taylor. The way in which the toy train’s journey was intercut with Bobby’s impending demise could have been cheesy or comical – it was a toy train, after all – but thanks to the sharp, vivid direction and editing, the scene was almost impossibly tense.

Train sequences have been used to heighten drama since the time of the Lumiere brothers, and, as happens so often on “The Sopranos,” perhaps the use of the train in the scene was an homage to classic cinema. Still, the scene didn’t come off as a static example of film theory in action. The setting of the hit -- in a train shop, next to a perfectly manicured model-train village, as Bobby decided to splurge on a beloved vintage train – all those things made his death especially poignant. Though he was obviously capable of violence, there was a childlike innocence about the lumbering Bobby. To see him die among the trains he loved so much made his death all the more sad.

Still, I won’t miss Bobby like I’ll miss Sil. And I’ll certainly miss the absorbing give and take between Tony and his psychiatrist, Dr. Melfi (Lorraine Bracco), which, as of Sunday’s episode, also appears to be over.

How many silent reaction shots has Bracco filmed over the last eight years? It has to be more than a hundred. But she never made them less than fascinating. But that’s nothing compared to scenes in which her character sparred with Gandolfini’s – that’s some serious, world-class acting there.

The way Paulie Walnuts says, “Eow!,” the all-purpose interjection on “The Sopranos,” which can be used in any number of sentences: “Eow! There he is!” to “Eow! Did you just disrespect the Bing?”

The show’s opening credit sequence, one of the all-time greats.

James Gandolfini as Tony and Edie Falco as Carmela. Honestly, have two actors playing a married couple ever done more absorbing work or been more perfectly cast?

There’s a lot more that I’ll miss (and I recommend Newark Star-Ledger critic Alan Sepinwall's take on the episode as well), but I wanted to give you a chance to weigh in. Though Tony advised us recently that, “‘Remember when’ is the lowest form of conversation,” let’s disregard that for the moment.
Tell us what aspect of “The Sopranos,” which signs off for good June 10, you’ll miss the most.

Comments

I will miss the Soprano family. Tony is a flat-out gansta and he's done some dispicable things, but I always rooted for him and his family. I will especially miss Carmella, who is the glue of that family, and who'll ultimately stand by her man no matter what he does.

Oh, and I will also miss the awesome opening credits, and the excitement I feel when I hear that song and know that the show is about to begin.

I will most miss Gandolfini's trancendant acting. Seriously, there is no finer actor working today. While I'm sure we'll be seeing him again, it won't be as Tony Soprano - and I would be hard pressed to name another melding of an actor to his role that is as perfect.

I have also been missing Chrissy! Self-absorbed little jerk that he was, he just may have been my favorite character. At the very least, second-favorite. His battles with Paulie Walnuts will be fondly remembered.

Since the Godfather came out in 1972 Hollywood has longed to create a world in which a murderous, selfish, psychotic criminal can be a sympathetic character. The Godfather purposely left the "real" world out of the movie. They never showed innocents being killed or even strong-armed. Sure in Godfather two the poor grocery store owner was extorted from, but that was before Vito took over. And even when Vito did take control all they showed him doing was scaring a landlord into lowering a woman's rent. The rest of the movie was filmed within the mob world, where everyone who died had "Chosen this life".
The Sopranos changed that a bit. There is still a mob honor that may or may not actually exist amongst killers in the real world, but they did delve into the death of bystanders, the extortion of innocents, and the sometimes random rage of these mob fellas. On the flip side, however, each guy was a family man with children and a wife. Each worried about taxes and bills and domestic issues. Why do we love Tony Soprano? Because he is what we sometimes wish we could be, but for the most part our morals and ethics would never allows us to be. He is a less civilized man who acts on instinct, fights for survival, and denies himself no pleasures along the way. How many men have never thought about sleeping with hundreds of women whenever they want, but still having their loving wives at home? How many men have never dreamed about knocking out the teeth of someone who insults their child? How many men have never thought about living in a mansion and working only when they feel like it? Not too many I suspect.
I'll tell you what I will miss the most about the Sopranos: I will miss the look at a life that I could never have, a life that I do not really want, but one that I might enjoy for a short while...That is-- until the bullets start flying.

Great article. I have to point out that there were several articles in the New Jersey papers last winter about permitting problems for the last scene of the show, to be filmed in a Bloomfield ice cream parlor. The articles reported that the problems were resolved and the scene was shot, with the characters in the scene being Tony, Carmela, & Silvio. So reports of Silvio's death may be greatly exaggerated. (Thanks Mark Twain)

Edie Falco, Wow! She has, more than any of the characters, been believable. A couple of seasons back when she threw Tony out for cheating. She nailed that scene to the freakin' wall. I had a similar real life scene with an ex like that and I don't think I could have been more uncomfortable seeing it portrayed. She is one of the best I have seen.

The last two episodes of "The Sopranos" were excellent, which is good news because I've been pretty disappointed with most of Season 6. It will be very interesting to see what happens next week. I agree that I don't think the final episode will be quite as bloody as yesterday's. My guess is that the Jersey boys will take out Phil, and that will pretty much be the end of it. Hopefully Sil will recover. (If he doesn't, though, how unbelievably ironic is it that the one guy Tony's left with in the end is Paulie?! Hilarious!)

I also want to comment on Dr. Melfi's actions in last night's episode: despicable! Her character has always annoyed me, but I never truly hated her until last night. What a selfish and unprofessional thing to do. I hope she somehow ends up getting whacked next Sunday, just for the hell of it.

Like all, I'll miss Tony...unwaivering and unforgiving, forever loyal, flawed but perfectly, "fat [removed] crook from Jersey." And RIP to Sil...you cannot buy that type of loyalty -- truly a rare breed. And to Pauly...one a kind, straight gangster. And if there's one thing I can say about the three...at least they're going out like real gangsters, and not like the Rat [removed] of today.

I will miss the show tremendously. Yes, there have been seasons that you were wondering who the heck was writing the show (dream episodes - yuck!). But man-o-man this show was almost as good as the first Godfather. Tony Soprano is a man's man - no doubt! Not that I want my 9 year old son to grow up like him, but if he could have his toughness without the crime - that would be awesome. I will be quoting many phrases from this show for a long, long time. I really do hope there will be a movie. Or at the very least a take-off, like a Scarface HBO mini-series. I am so looking forward to this Sunday's final episode - no matter what happens, it will be bitter sweet.

It's absolutely impossible to mention all of the things I'm going to miss. I think what my wife and I comment a lot on as soon as the show ends is just the ingenious way an episode ends. Either the great way Tony is just sitting there staring into space accompanied by great music, or by the twists and turns the plot takes with somone dying. Words can't describe how sad I am the series is coming to an end. It was the best way to cap off a weekend.

Over the last several episodes in which the family memebers are dropping like fies, it occurs to me that no new members have been made since Bobby. The backroom of the Bing is empty now in comparison of a year ago. If the death of Tony is imminent, so is the total collapse of the family. Nothing will remain but a vacuum. A sad way to eliminate any chance of a spinoff.

I don't believe Tony will get wacked at all. Only because Sil did not die. Keep in mind the show is called Sopranos in this case and also for any future movies Tony will reign. The show is an outstanding show and I'm really going to miss it. I love Big Love however after the final episode of Sopranos I am getting rid of HBO. Sopranos, and Sex in The City and Wire are the only reason why I kept HBO. Two or the Three are gone..............

The Sopranos has been television at it's very best. You can't help but love Tony even when you know what he is. Last night was so amazing, I could barely sleep thinking about it. I share the same sentiments...NOT SIL!!! OH, God, NOT SIL!! But I was relieved that Chris finally got it.

I always thrill at the opening credits but especially so since when my husband and I took a trip to NY 6 years ago, we rented a car in Newark and he took me on the same highway and streets that Tony drives on in the opening. And we had the soundtrack cd playing in the background! It was magic!

I don't want Tony to die...I would hate for Phil to win...I hate Phil just like I can't stand Dr. Melfi. What a simpering, self-righteous coward she turned out to be and her snotty disgusting dinner guests as well.

Tony is truly alone. Can he stand up and defend himself and his family? I sure hope so. He's a truly great and amazing character and tv will be a lot dimmer with his loss. Gandolfini is AMAZING. I cannot find the words to describe what he has done these 7 years with his characterization of Tony. There aren't enough awards to give him. He deserves them ALL.
I'm almost holding my breath till next week even though I am so sad to see them go. These people, so flawed, yet so vulnerable made us love them even when we knew they were terrible people. That's special.

Great Recap of last night's episode. I read a theory on hbo msg board from someone. Tony is falling asleep as this episode ends. It is likely, the first 10 minutes of the finale may be a dream sequence we are tricked to believe is real. I felt empty with the Melfi stuff. I'm also upset about Silv.

I have to disagree with the comments of some that most of this season has been disappointing. I think it has been one of the best overall. Of course there have been some episodes not as good as others, (a little less whining from AJ) but that is relative when it comes to this show. Started off with a bang when Tony and Bobby get into that fight, and then Bobby backs into the trees... not only intense but hilarious at the same time.....Sopranos can be so over the top sometimes that you have to laugh....especially if Paulie is involved. I also loved the episode when Tony and Paulie take the road trip to Miami... Tony just can't take Paulie never shutting up... and Junior hooking up with that kid and then stomping the old professor from Rutgers.... I will intensely miss this show and my only regret is that it's over. The acting, writing, and directing have been superb for years....

This is definitely the end, folks. One more hour -- no movie, no miniseries, no spinoffs. And that's fine with me; I think the show would have ideally lasted only fives seasons, we could have dropped some of the annoying subplots like the Tony B. and Vito stuff.

I think what Carlos said is interesting, and typical of many of us male viewers: We love Tony Soprano. I would never, ever want to be friends with someone like Tony, but at the same time I can't help but like him and root for him. There are a few thing about him that remind of my father (same tastes in music and food, for example), but then again that feels like a real insult to my father. Sort of the same way Dr. Kupferberg calls Tony a monster but loves getting the dirt on him from Melfi.

There's something strangely appealing about a "man's man" who takes what he wants --- money, women, power, etc. And yet that the same man can be devastated by a family of ducks briefly visiting his swimming pool. That's what I'll miss about The Sopranos.

They called it " this thing of ours." And it was/is a strong bond of love, friendship, family ties and mutual respect. Not that any of that makes sociopathic behaviour acceptable or desirable but, hey, it's a TV show and fictional. What I particularly enjoyed was the group dynamic of the men... it was like being at my Nonna's for Sunday dinner after Mass and all my uncles were there. Same goofy jokes, same malaprops, same gestures and snappy clothes, same testosterone-soaked repartee. I will miss this finely-wrought drama with its comic overtones, and this broad comedy with a darker, seamier underside. It's certainly set the standard for what constitutes excellence in TV programming fromhere on out.

The thing I'll miss the most is how each season except for this one has begun, with Tony waddling down the driveway in his robe to get the morning paper. In so many episodes, it has cracked me up how something as simple as that has led to so much. Earlier this season after a confrontation with the feds, Tony said to Carmela, "It's too dangerous for me to get the paper."

It seems that it would be a fitting ending next week if that was the final scene...an uneventful walk down the driveway. Tony picks up the paper, opens it, and for the first time he looks up and nothing is there. Then he simply walks back up the driveway after tucking it under his arm. He would be saying goodbye to us in the same way that he introduced himself.

Phil's guys whack someone in Tony's immediate family (AJ? Meadow?) and Big-T goes berserk, calls his FBI buddy (we've been seeing a lot of him in the last few episodes, eh?), and rats out Phil... if... they will put the NY mobster in jail for the rest of his life... which as we know from last week's sit-down scene... is worse than death to Phil, having already spent 20 years in the can.

Tony & family then go into the FBI witness protection program and end up in south FL where he becomes an FBI trainer.

Acting for this show has ALWAYS been incredible!
The writing has had it's ups and downs but the actors have ALWAYS shined!
Gandolfini is awesome!!!...and the rest of the cast incredible as well.
Very well put-together series that will be hard to match for years to come...BIG shoes to fill!!
I know I'll miss this GREAT show!

David Chase has said that, from the beginning, he knew how the series would end. That's tantalizing. Tony dies? Phil dies? They work out a deal? I'd say it's 55-45 that Tony dies, just because Chase doesn't want any future spinoffs.

I happen to like the slow, smoldering episodes that led off this final half-season, and I also liked the Tony dream scenes from the past very much.

I think, though, that Tony's sudden and brief gambling problem, and his thoughts about killing Paulie on the boat, and the buildup of rancor leading to Tony killing Chris were less than convincing. It seemed that Chase originally planned more episodes to fill in those blanks, but he had to telescope them into the airtime HBO would allow.

I thought Tony's shrink was going to report him to the cops, because he would intimate he was going to commit a future crime---but it doesn't look, now, like that this is going to happen. It would have made a good final indignity.

It's possible we'll see Tony dead in his pool, where the series began---and his beloved ducks will return to his floating corpse.

It was bound to happen, but I thought that they would have taken Phil out and all would have ended. More than that I thought that someone from Jersey was going to blowup the hair salon when the New York crew was plotting their plan.

Despite my hopes it seems that things happened in the order that the characters set for themselves.

Bobby should not have been at a friggin toy store and Sil should have had his gun with him. As you recall, Tony told him to put the word out. This should have meant packing you gun and shoot when you see them coming. I know that he was out the door but do you put your gun in a briefcase.

I fear now that Paulie is going to take Tony out. If not, the younger guys in the crew will take out Paulie and Tony and that will be the story.

I don't see how closing yourself up in a house is a solution. It seems more like the end from within. I'm sorry to say it but the same way Bobby went into a toy store these guys are in a neighborhood with their cars parked outside.

Finally, the image of Tony in a bed with the biggest gun that will not help him in a small room reduces him to being a punk in the end. So I guess the end is near.....they had a long run and Tony end may call for him to be killed by someone close to him since he killed 2 of his own cousins.

When Tony is walking out of her office, calls her behavior "immoral" and very delicately and sarcastically replaces the recipe in the magazine, I couldn't help but think about how far he had come since the first season. "early" Tony would have kicked over the coffee table again, raged profanely at Dr. Melfi, and ripped the magazine in half on his way out.

Tony has grown. Dr. Melfi seems to be acting more childishly than he, at this point. I think she's right, she can't help him any longer. But not for the reasons she thinks.

I hate to say it, but its seems the writers have left no way out but to kill Tony (or put him in the witness protection progam, which I don't believe his character would ever do). They have been setting up Tony's demise throughout season 6 by highlighting his weaknesses as never before (Tony losing a fight to Bobby? And gambling debts.. Tony Soprano can't pay his football bookie???), his paranoid lack of loyalty to anyone but himself (kills Christopher, then screws his Vegas girl), and his never ending paranoia (how close to killing Paulie did he come?). Even if the show continued, they have left viewers with none of the core "grit" characters, but for Tony's immediate family (and I don't think I can listen to AJ cry again). Assuming Sil doesn't make it, a meeting at the Bing would now include... Tony and Paulie, his worst guy? Sadly, noboy's left from the Jersey crew, and the writers have left little room for mauever. A sad end to a great series.

I think Sil is still alive. Tony said that the doctors wouldn't give him an update which Paulie followed with that he heard through someone else that Sil would not regain conscienousness. I think this is Sil's way out of a down spiral he has been witnessing for a while. The director gave strong images as to where Sil was shot. In the side, in the arm, none looked lethal. I think all of Tony's paranoia about his family is true and possibly Paulie and Sil are working both sides of the fence. How could Paulie give such bad information to the hitmen?!? It doesn't seem right. How do you screw-up hitting a boss?!

I so enjoyed last night's episode. After a poor start to this last season (who wrote those episodes?) the show is back on track and sharp as a butcher's knife! Next week will be sad no matter how it ends - only because its the end. I keep hoping Tony and his family will be spared with the possibility of a movie later on? (one can only hope).

I also did not like the Dr. Melfi section last night. I think it would be a pretty bad psychiatrist who would toss out a patient for no good reason. I'm sure her actions and attitude would have been shameful in the real world. Complaining about a page torn from a magazine???? Give me a break!

Anyway, I'm sad to see it end. Series like this are soooo rare. Parting shot...if Phil doesn't get offed next week I'm going to be stompin mad!!

Incidentally, one more thing I'll miss above all else....I grew up in Kearny, NJ just 1 1/2 blocks from Satrielle's. Now I'm 3,000 miles away. I'll miss the glimpses of my old territory.

The whole feel of last night's episode is still chilling. Absolutely the best film-making throughout, but Tony's last scene with the gun in the bedroom at the safe house and the shot of the muted light on the closed door - brilliant!!! They could have ended the whole thing right there. Next week has a lot to live up to.

I hope Sil pulls through. He is one of kind. The person that wrote he was a "Dapper", was right. I love the scene right before the decision was made to go to war, when he was using the shoe shiner. His character is very New Jersey. Reminds me of my father, god rest his soul. I think the things he did for the mob he only did out of loyalty, I never really pictured him as a gangster, but more of a business man. It's amazing how attached you become to certain characters. It was sad when I heard he might not regain consciousness. I will defintely watch the final episode.

I will miss Tony and the gang too. I think it's going to end with Agent Harris tipping off Tony about Phil's next move. Harris realizes he's consumed with the lives of Tony Soprano and crew and he's willing to lose his job over it. After all, if Tony dies... Harris' career dies too. It's art imitating life. Harris' loyalty to Tony...mirrors the fan obsession (maybe too strong a word)... with the show. I think Tony will live and life will return to Soprano "normal". I'd like to see the last scene with Tony enjoying a cigar in the backyard... as ducks appear.

I'll miss the music!
The theme song, of course, but the carefully selected music that embraces each episode as well
I'll miss Tony, his family and all the cast of characters that fall in-between from the FBI agents to Carmela's parents.
This series has been expertly cast.
I hope Tony survives, but I doubt that he will. For some reason I don't think it will be Phil that takes him out.
An excellent series, well written, acted and cast.
It will be truly missed.

The music is amazing too. At the end of last weeks episode, there was a lullaby my grandmother used to sing (Ninni Ninna) 60 years ago. If you grew up Sicilian American, the whole show has been a reminder of family, though mine was not quite so violent.

I too cannot believe that Dr. Melfi would decide that Tony is unhelpable based on the reading of a single article; or that she would suddenly doubt his sincerity after 7 years.

In past seasons, Dr. Melfi's involvement with Tony has forced her into hiding, driven her to alcoholism, and strained her relationship with her ex-husband and son. He also slept with her suicidal patient, stalked her following his split with Carmela, and has physically threatened her and verbally assaulted her on numerous occasions.

But it is a torn-out recipe that supposedly motivates her to end their relationship in the cruelest and most unprofessional way imaginable? Come on.

Fortunately, the incomparable Lorraine Bracco is so wonderful that she made this unjustifiable scene actually work.

Please, HBO staff writers---give us material that's worthy of the characters you've created, and the actors who play them!

the sopranos is the most engaging show on television period; this voyeuristic aperture into mafia life is beyond words, because it is not simply mob life...it is life.

the many sides to a person, to a life, even to a criminal and their pursuit of life. the sopranos and its actors are the most believable cast in a televised drama to come along in several decades.

i don't root for tony, as some have said. i don't cheer for the bad guy, because i don't see Tony as the bad guy. i see him as the regular guy who has made bad choices. i see tony as a man who fights for what is right and in accordance with his code of ethics -- yes, he does have a moral ethos.

i appreciate any man who will stand by his choices for better or worse. that is tony soprano. he is caniving, manipulative, deranged, and he is every man. i broke a few guys' teeth so i know. it is a struggle to walk straight in a world that is crooked.

the show has is the best representation of life: it has its dull moments that drag on, its family moments, its thrilling moments. and that is life. sometimes it's slow and sometimes it's thrilling.
so some people say certain parts are boring...well, life is that way.
bottom line, sopranos is legendary...and i pray that tony does not die...i mean, come on, he just got shot by junior so that would be hella corny. to recover from getting shot only to die from bullets this season.

sil, come on, what gangster doesn't carry his heat when the war is on...
also, when they got to the safe house i think i saw a life-size cut-out of sil in the corner, this means he going to be the new boss.

There are some who will disagree with me, but what I'll miss most of all are the dream sequence episodes. The episode last night ended with Tony falling asleep with his rifle, so we may get to see one for the last time next week!

Patsy Parisi ran off but I don't think he got shot. Does anyone think he'll come back and do anything important in the final episode?

Some of the stuff in this last season seemed pretty extraneous and kept us from getting to the meat of the story: I never really liked Dr. Melfi, but that last scene with her just didn't make sense. I kept thinking "did I miss something?" What was with all the gambling issues -- where did that go? And AJ's whining and crying... I think if I was Tony, I would've slapped AJ and made him go rake the leaves or something. I'd for sure would've taken away his computer & internet.

I HAVE TO SAY THE HARDEST THING WAS TO WATCH SYLVIO GET WHACKED LIKE THAT EVEN THOUGH HES NOT 100 PERCENT DEAD. FROM WATCHING THE SHOW FOR SO LONG YOU ALMOST HAVE A BOND WITH THE CHARACHTERS I GUESS IF IT WAS MADE FROM THE NEW YORK SIDE IT WOULD BE THE OTHER WAY AROUND. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE TONY COME OUT OF IT AND MAYBE HAND MOST OF THE EVERY DAY BUSINESS OVER TO PAULIE.I HOPE IT DOESNT END WITH PAULIE BETRAYING TONY BC THAT WOULD JUST BE A LAME WAY FOR HIME TO BE KILLED BY ONE OF THR LAST PEOPLE HE HAD BY HIS SIDE. I WOULD NICE TO SEE PHIL END UP WITH A SURPRISE ATTACK AND KILL HIM AND MOST OF HIS CREW OFF.

Great Episode. When Tony requested "help" from overseas, I thought for a split moment that Furio might re-enter the picture. But I suppose with just one episode left, you couldn't do that scenario justice. I would be very happy if Carmella left Tony, but I don't think that'll happen.

VERY EDGY.....that is the best way to describe last night's episode. As others have lamented....I feel bad about Bobby....but Sil needs to pull through. I think Paulie is working for Phil and has assisted in orchestrating the hits. His resentment over the years have piled up.... He was ready to switch families for Johnny Sac and bad mouthed him in front of others just as he's been doing about Phil. I feel that Tony will come through all of this and his enemies will be taken care of and when all is said and done...Tony will somehow get out of the business.

On a lighter note....I got the privilege to meet James Gandolfin when he was here in New Orleans for Mardi Gras....what a GREAT guy.

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